Page 117 of Tabloid Princess

I cringed and pulled another face as she chuckled and leant down to give me a kiss.

“We’ll come for a roast next week. I promise.”

She arched an eyebrow. “We’ll see.”

“No, we will. I promise.”

“Will you be needing me to get Daisy this week? Are you going to work?”

I turned to her, a frown creasing my forehead. “Nana, nothing has changed. Everything will be the same.”

She reached down and gave me a squeezing hug. “You believe that for as long as you like, Leia.” She chuckled some more as she picked up her belongings and went to say goodbye to Daisy.

I paused for a moment, mulling over what she said. I could sense the truth of it. But at the same time, I could almost feel my tangible grip on reality slipping through my hands. I could feel it, but I couldn’t bring myself to stop it. Not at all.

An hour later, Daisy and I walked around the corner to where a driver sat in a car. It wasn’t Bill. At last the poor guy got a day off.

“Miss Lawrence, I’m Eric.”

I nodded my greeting and fastened Daisy into the booster seat. “Hi.”

“Just a short drive today, Ma’am.”

“Where are we going?”

He didn’t say anything and pulled the car off into the traffic.

“Why didn’t Oliver come to meet us, Mummy?” Daisy’s question pulled my attention down.

“I don’t know, maybe he had important things to do.” I sighed and decided lying was of no benefit to any of us. “You know he’s a prince, and we’ve asked you not to tell anyone you get to see him?”

She nodded, her blue eyes focused on my face.

“Well, because he’s a prince, people want to know where he is all the time. Lots of people with cameras try to take pictures of him.”

“Like they did with you the other week on the way to school?”

“Exactly like that, Daisy! But for Oliver it’s worse. They never stop. So sometimes, I guess he might want to come and see us, but it’s hard for him to do.”

She nodded, far too understanding for a six-year-old.

I asked my burning question, despite the fact I’d promised myself I wouldn’t. “Did you like him yesterday, Daisy? It must have been strange for you.”

She thought about it for a moment. “I had fun. I loved the ponies…” she trailed off.

“But?”

“I liked seeing you smile more.”

My eyes filled with tears, which I brushed at with my hands.

“Do you think people will try to take our picture now we are friends with Ollie?” My heart almost burst at hearing her make him sound so normal.

“He’s trying very hard to make that not happen. Neither of us want you in the newspaper.”

She shrugged. “I guess if that’s what happens to him, and we want to play with him, then it could.”

I squeezed her shoulder. “Let’s hope not.”